Deconstructing Developmental Psychology

by Erica Burman

What is childhood and why, and how, did psychology come to be the arbiter of 'correct'or 'normal' development? How do actual lived childhoods connect with theories about child development? In this completely revised and updated edition, Deconstructing Developmental Psychology interrogates the assumptions and practices surrounding the psychology of child development, providing a critical evaluation of the role and contribution of developmental psychology within social practice. In the decade since the first edition was published, there have been many major changes. The role accorded childcare experts and the power of the 'psy complex' have, if anything, intensified. This book addresses how shifts in advanced capitalism have produced new understandings of children, and a new (and more punitive) range of institutional responses to children. It engages with the paradoxes of childhood in an era when young adults are increasingly economically dependent on their families, and in a political context of heightened insecurity. The new edition includes an updated review of developments in psychological theory (in attachment, evolutionary psychology, theory of mind, cultural-historical approaches), as well as updating and reflecting upon the changed focus on fathers and fathering. It offers new perspectives on the connections between Piaget and Vygotsky and now connects much more closely with discussions from the sociology of childhood and critical educational research. Coverage has been expanded to include more material on child rights debates, and a new chapter addresses practice dilemmas around child protection, which engages even more with the "raced" and gendered effects of current policies involving children. This engaging and accessible text provides key resources to inform better professional practice in social work, education and health contexts. It offers critical insights into the politics and procedures that have shaped developmental psychological knowledge. It will be essential reading for anyone working with children, or concerned with policies around children and families. It was also be of interest to students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels across a range of professional and practitioner groups, as well as parents and policy makers.

Genres: Psychology, Parenting

368 pages, Paperback

First published June 24, 1994

Reviews

[Doni · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is good in that it raises a critique of developmental psychology as a distorted representation of humanity based on case studies generally focused on white, middle-class American and isolated interactions between mother and child. Developmental psychology as it stands today serves to perpetuate systems of oppression and inequity. While this is certainly worth considering, the critique is so broad-sweeping that it is difficult to come away with how this played out with specific findings of psychology. For example, it critiques Piaget, primarily for his project being focused on a genetic epistemology rather than on psychology that has since permanently molded psychology. But it gives no indication of how we might expect his proposed cognitive or moral stages to be different if his studies were to be more representative of social interaction in general rather than a few isolated individuals. It also critiques child-centered education as ultimately resulting in a hidden authoritative agenda, but in a vague, unconvincing way. This book serves well as an introduction to thinking critically about developmental psychology, but offers no substantial contributions of its own.

[Ivan Kapersky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent piece by Burman, a bit difficult to understand but very thorough and extensive. Burman does know how to argue and criticize developmental models and their structure. The reading can be a little overwhelming since the critics are written implicitly, not shown as a parallelism. Overall Burman does an excellent work but she lacks to offer concrete alternative to developmental models, in sum, she offers a few alternative, but nothing concrete or an alternate model to work with. I definitely recommend t if you are interested in critical developmental psychology.